A telephone call and a postcard have made a world of difference for Alexei Y. Levin, turning his dream of emigration into reality. Levin, 45, was one of the Jewish refuseniks who for five years was denied permission to leave the Soviet Union. He had been advised to forget his dream. But now, in what appears to be a reversal of policy, he and hundreds of others have been issued exit visas. A new wave of Soviet emigrants is headed for Israel, the United States and other countries.

A telephone call and a postcard have made a world of difference for Alexei Y. Levin, turning his dream of emigration into reality. Levin, 45, was one of the Jewish refuseniks who for five years was denied permission to leave the Soviet Union. He had been advised to forget his dream. But now, in what appears to be a reversal of policy, he and hundreds of others have been issued exit visas. A new wave of Soviet emigrants is headed for Israel, the United States and other countries.